Son of Man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. (Ezekiel 33:7)
Unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1b)
He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:3b-4)
God places his children in the position of watchmen. We are to cry, alert others, or even call upon the heavens to stand by our side and give us victory. We are made in the image of our father—he is the master watchman. He never slumbers. He never sleeps. He is the best to watch over us. Likewise he has called us to work with him in the places he places us.
What do you expect to be the characteristic of the watchmen he expects us to be? I see someone who is spiritually alert, a person who does not succumb to spiritual slumber. I see someone who is brave standing in a vantage position, with a trumpet in his hands and feet well shod in readiness to serve his master. I see someone with access to a higher being for support. I imagine someone who is fearless and who won’t compromise. I expect him to have wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment. I expect this watchmen to daily draw his strength from the Lord in an intimate fellowship. He should differentiate voices and learn to hear from the Holy Spirit, and be fully led by him. I believe therefore our prayers should have some semblance with the one below.
Lord Jesus, thank you for choosing me to be a watchman among your people.
I look to you for help, for unless you watch over me, or watch over my city, my work will be in vain.
Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and melt away everything that hinders serving you in my life.
Make me sensitive to your voice and your direction.
Let fear depart from my life from this moment in Jesus’s name.
I receive a spirit of courage in Jesus’s name.
I refuse to compromise in Jesus name.
Give me wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and discernment, O my Lord Jesus.
I daily draw my strength from you.
Arise in my life my God, and let every lying spirit in my life depart in Jesus’s name.
Keep me awake spiritually by your power, O my God.
May your Holy Spirit lead and guide me always.
In Jesus’s name,
Amen.